Rupert Grint ended up fielding more political questions than film ones at the Berlin premiere of Nightborn this Saturday. What should have been a standard festival press event turned into a wider conversation about conflict, responsibility, and whether actors should use their platform to speak out.
Berlin has already welcomed big names this year, including Pamela Anderson and Charli xcx, but the Nightborn press conference quickly became one of the most talked-about sessions. Instead of staying focused on the supernatural thriller, journalists steered the discussion toward global tensions and the role of artists in public debate.
In Nightborn, directed by Finnish filmmaker Hanna Bergholm, Grint plays Jon, a British man who moves to a remote Finnish home with his wife Saga, played by Seidi Haarla. Their attempt at a quiet life turns disturbing once they suspect their newborn child is hiding something deeply unsettling. But during the press meet, the real world overshadowed the film’s horror elements.
Co writer Ilja Rautsi spoke first about the power of storytelling, arguing that art can help build empathy and hold powerful figures accountable. The discussion soon expanded to ongoing wars and humanitarian crises.
Director Hanna Bergholm, who wore a watermelon pin, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, was direct when asked about her choice of attire and the role of the filmmaker in global discourse.
“Of course, every film can’t be about every topic in the world, and it doesn’t need to be,” Bergholm stated. “But as grown-up human beings, I think we have a responsibility to speak up against violence and against injustice, because not speaking up is also a choice.”
Grint was later asked about political changes in the United Kingdom and the broader concerns about extremism. He answered cautiously but clearly, saying,
“Obviously, I’m against it, but I mean, I choose my moments when to speak but yeah, it’s obviously hugely relevant now. I think, yeah… You’ll hear from me.”
The Nightborn team’s willingness to engage stands in contrast to other high-profile figures at this year’s Berlinale. Jury president Wim Wenders and actress Michelle Yeoh have both recently argued that cinema and politics should remain separate—a stance that led acclaimed author Arundhati Roy to withdraw from the festival in protest just yesterday.
As the festival continues, the divide between those who view art as a sanctuary and those who view it as a megaphone remains the week’s most persistent drama.
